529 new solar installations in Raparin as shift to renewables gathers pace

RAPARIN — More than 500 units in the Raparin Administration in Sulaymaniyah governorate have installed solar power in a shift that officials say is reducing reliance on the public grid.

In a statement, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Electricity said 529 consumers have installed solar systems with a combined capacity of about 4 megawatts.

The ministry said the installations include 465 households, 53 businesses, eight farms, five public offices and two factories, describing the spread across sectors as a sign of growing confidence in renewable energy.

The move is part of broader efforts in the Kurdistan Region to ease pressure on the grid and promote cleaner, lower-cost alternatives. Official statistics released last week said more than 200 electricity subscribers in Halabja governorate have also adopted solar power for homes and businesses.

The ministry said the KRG has encouraged solar adoption through policies such as net metering, which allows users to feed surplus electricity into the grid in exchange for credits on their utility bills.

Officials have also linked the trend to the Runaki electricity modernization project, launched Oct. 17, 2023, which aims to expand 24-hour power access and reduce reliance on private generators. The project has provided round-the-clock electricity to more than 4 million residents across the Kurdistan Region, including in Halabja, according to the ministry.